title: [Pathogenesis of Achilles tendon rupture].
abstract: The etiology underlying ruptures of the Achilles tendon is analyzed in 65 patients in a retrospective clinical study. A typical mechanism leading to a rupture of the tendon consists in an extraordinary tension force applied on a tendon in a state of active preload. A spontaneous rupture was observed in merely 3 cases. In 21 out of 65 patients risk factors such as hypercholesterolemia, hyperuricemia and arteriosclerosis were present. A systematic application of corticosteroids proved to be a decisive factor in the etiology of a tendon rupture. There was no correlation between the presence of associated risk factors and the degree of histological degeneration. During follow-up 3 re-ruptures and 6 ruptures of the contralateral tendon were registered. Our results lead to the conclusion that the etiology of the rupture of the Achilles tendon is based on a multifactorial disposition which includes the mechanism of injury, preexistent risk-factors as well as degenerative changes in the tendon structure.
authors.affiliation: Abteilung für Allgemeine und Unfallchirurgie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raunest
authors.forename: K F
authors.initials: KF
authors.lastname: Bürrig
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Derra
mesh_terms: D000125:Achilles Tendon / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012421:Rupture; D012422:Rupture, Spontaneous; D012737:Sex Factors
vernacular_title: Zur Pathogenese der Achillessehnenruptur.